Massive wildfires are raging around the world during unprecedented heatwaves, blanketing millions of people under pungent haze caused by smoke carrying noxious gases and particulate matter that pose serious health risks. Here is what you need to know about the risks of wildfire smoke. WHAT IS CONTAINED IN WILDFIRE SMOKE? More toxic than normal air … Read more
Officials are warning Americans to reconsider travel to Venezuela, saying the South American nation presents new risks to tourists. The country sits at a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory, according to a June 27 update by the U.S. State Department. While Venezuela has been at a Level 3 throughout the year, the latest advisory adds the country’s … Read more
Green means go, red means stop. Trophies or confetti come with good performance, and people who fall behind get nudged to do better. Those brightly colored engagement tactics long ago jumped from smartphone games to everything from online shopping to sports betting and classrooms. So it should come as no surprise that many nutrition-tracking apps like MyFitnessPal and … Read more
Talk about mixed messaging. Despite the well-documented dangers, videos posted on TikTok have been normalizing illegal vaping among young people, according to new research. Meanwhile, evidence-based health advice is struggling to cut through the clutter and noise. While the downsides of vaping are numerous, social media is normalizing the illegal habit amongst young audiences. Krakenimages.com … Read more
American travelers in the Middle East are being urged to stay alert as US officials warn that security conditions remain volatile across the region, even as Washington, D.C., and Tehran move toward a tentative agreement aimed at easing the latest crisis. The warning comes as US officials describe a draft agreement with Iran that could reopen the Strait of … Read more
The latest beverage trend is far from clean – and it’s raising red flags with doctors. Known as a “dirty soda,” it’s a soft drink that also includes a combination of added ingredients, such as flavored syrups, creamers, fruit juices, and other garnishes. The result is a sweet beverage that’s a combination of a soda, … Read more
Alkaline water has entered the conversation as an arguable alternative to regular drinking water. Numerous celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston, have touted alkaline water in brand campaigns, but is there a real benefit? Experts report that the science is uncertain. Bottled water that’s sold as alkaline water may have added minerals like calcium … Read more
If you’re looking to extend the caffeine buzz from your daily coffee, a taste of grapefruit might do the trick. Grapefruit contains a chemical that interacts with other substances, which is why doctors caution against pairing it with dozens of medications. The chemical works by blocking an enzyme in the digestive system that helps break down certain … Read more
Two of the most influential voices in U.S. nutrition guidance are aligned on the basics, yet they diverge on two major cooking ingredients: butter and beef tallow. As traditional cooking fats, butter and beef tallow infuse flavor into dishes and can make meals more satisfying, but they are calorie-dense. The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, developed by the … Read more
Gen Z is finally waking up and realizing that they were mass-prescribed antidepressants without much consideration for the long-term side effects. Among them is Ella Emhoff, the 26-year-old stepdaughter of Kamala Harris, who recently took to TikTok to express concern that she’s having difficulty coming off of SSRIs herself. “I’ve been on SSRIs for over … Read more
They’re up s–t creek without a plunger. Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water: A picturesque California beach is at risk of being shuttered amid a deluge of sewage from Mexico that’s befouled the coastline. “It was heaven on Earth, and now I call it paradise lost,” Whitney David, … Read more
Ford is recalling almost 1.4 million of its F-150 pickup trucks in the US because of a gearshift issue that may lead to the loss of control of vehicles and increasing the risk of a crash. The automaker is aware of two injuries and one accident possibly related to the issue. The recall includes F-150 … Read more
Reaching for the salt shaker at the kitchen table may seem like second nature for some — but it could reveal troubling details about your health. Recent Brazilian research, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, investigated the impact of adding salt to food with a focus on older adults. The study used national survey data … Read more
Older travelers who may be limited in their dexterity should be spread out across a flight’s seating — not just for their own safety, but for the safety of everyone on board, scientists say. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires aircraft to be able to evacuate within 90 seconds in case of an emergency — but as … Read more
More good news in the battle against opioid addiction. Scientists have reopened research into a class of opioids that were once shelved from study — and have discovered a variant that’s a powerful pain reliever, but potentially much safer for sustained use. Though research into nitazenes, a long-overlooked synthetic opioid compound, was cut short in … Read more
Tiger Woods allegedly had two hydrocodone pills in his left pant pocket when he flipped his Land Rover in Florida and was subsequently arrested on DUI charges last Friday. While the drug is prescribed to treat chronic pain or manage pain after surgery or injury, using it is not without risks — and serious ones at … Read more
A popular class of weight-loss drugs may prevent life-threatening cardiac complications by opening microscopic blood vessels that often remain blocked after a heart attack, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications. The research, led by the University of Bristol and University College London, identified a biological brain-gut-heart signaling pathway. This discovery appears to explain … Read more
Why scream into the void when you can talk to the machine? These days, tech-obsessed folks are turning to artificial intelligence for just about everything — job hunting, romance, shopping, and, of course, therapy. While speaking to a human therapist has become more normalized for all, new research suggests that men would rather turn to … Read more
It might be time to rethink that little pill in your medicine cabinet. A new study casts doubt on the idea that regularly taking an over-the-counter painkiller can help ward off colorectal cancer — at least for the general population. Worse, researchers warn that the daily habit carries “immediate risks,” including a higher chance of … Read more
Talk about a bloody mess. OB-GYNs are in a cramp over a viral idea that’s taken over TikTok: that you can simply “scoop out” your period to avoid the messiness that comes once a month. But docs have been quick to debunk and demystify what’s actually going on down there. A viral claim that women … Read more